Category Archives: Seeds

Flax – Lin This week we were walking off the road between Le Val and Bras in search of interesting plants. Cistus salvifolius, in certain stretches, was covering the sides of the road. This is a white flowering Cistus with a … Continue reading →

Jack-by-the Hedge – Alliaire officinale Jack-by-the-Hedge is a common herb found throughout Europe. It is a biennial. The first year it produces a rosette of leaves, the second year it flowers. The leaves are triangular to heart-shaped with serrated edges. … Continue reading →

Hoary Cress – Brocoli sauvage Hoary Cress is a perennial, considered invasive in the U.S.A., where it has been introduced. The plant is greyish/green in appearance, velvety to the touch. It is very common in the south of France. It … Continue reading →

Rocket – Roquette Rocket has been cultivated continuously from Roman times till 17th century. Virgil wrote that ‘Rocket excites the sexual desire of drowsy people’. John Gerard (1545-1611), botanist and herbalist, considered it to be a good salad herb. His … Continue reading →

Borage – Bourrache Borago officinalis, through the ages, has been considered to be a herb to lighten the spirits, to dispel melancholy and to give courage. According to Dioscorides (40-90AD) and Pliny (23-79AD), Borage was the famous ‘Nepenthe’ of Homer, … Continue reading →

Liverwort/Liverleaf – Anémone hépatique The flowers of the Liverwort are exquisite. It is one of the first plants of the year to flower. The sepals vary in colour from blue to purple, pink and even white, but most commonly they are … Continue reading →

Milk Thistle – Chardon Marie It is a native to Southern Europe through to Asia and has been introduced to other parts of the world. Although most farmers in Northern Europe consider the Milk Thistle a pest and try to … Continue reading →

Wild Fennel – Fenouil commun Native to the Mediterranean region, Europe and Asia. It is a perennial with erect glaucous stems up to 2.5 m. which become hollow with age, The leaves are feathery, 3-4 pinnate with numerous thread-like … Continue reading →